Regulating apparatus



July 16, 1929. A. ILEMAN REGULATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1926 4 nvgmtoz Gbtwn S j www!! Patented July I6, 1.929.

UNITED STATES l .11,72301 PATENT oFFlcE.

EMIL A. ILEMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CON- SOLIDATED vASHCROF'J? HANCOCK COMPANY, INC., 0F NEW'YORK, N. Y., A. CORPO'- RATION OF DELAWARE.

REGULATING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 18, 1926. Serial No. 136,364.

My invention@ relates to improvements in regulating apparatus and more particularly to apparatus adapted. to maintain substanf tially constant pressure, temperature or other conditions at a given place. u

The main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is more reliable in its operation and 4particularly to provide an apparatus which will maintain pressure,- .10 .temperature or other condition more nearly In the drawingsa ig. 1 is a face view of an i apparatus embodymg my improvements in a preferred form thereof, the glass cover being omitted, the wiring connectionsV being shown diagrammatically and the scale'bemg broken away in order to more clearly illustrate the same; Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line A-A of Fig 1; and Fig. 3is a topplan view of the contact head taken on the line B-B of Fig. 2.

In order to make the operation of the device clear to those skilled in the art, I will describe the same in connectionl with a motor operated valve adapted to control, for instance, the admission of steam under pres sure to a retort Vin which it is desired to maintain the pressure substantially constant. Indeed I prefer to use the invention with an electrically operated Valve such as shown and described in my co-pending application Sor. No. 136,365, filed Sept. 18, 1926. However, as above stated, the improvements may be used with other forms of valves and to maintain other conditions for a wide variety f of purposes.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a suitable casing and 2 represents a hollow spring tube, such as is known as a Bourdon tube, one end of which is rigidly fixed to the head 3, which in turn is secured to the inside of the casing by screws 4. Connection is made from the retort to the tube 2 through the pipe nipple and head 3 so-that variationsin pressure in the retort are also eX- erted in the tube 2. J ournalled in the back of the casing is a stud 5 having a head 6 adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver so that the stud may be readily turned to make certain adjustments as hereafter described. Tightly screwed on to the inner end of the stud 5 is a body of insulating material 7, and screwed into the opposite end ofthe insulating body 7 is a stud bearing member 8. Journalled on the bearing mem--4 ber 8 and adapted to freely rotate with, respect thereto is a hubv9 to which is rigidly attached aslotted arm 10. Adjustably and pivotally attached tothe arm 10 is one end of a link: 11, the other end of which is pivotally attached to the free end of the spring tube 2 by means of post 12. The link 11 is composed of two parts 13 and 14 connected bya piece of insulating material 15 so that the parts 8, 9 and 10 are'all insulated from the casing and other parts which may be grounded. A pointer switch member 17 is also rigidly secured to the insulated hub 9 and a cap screw 16 holds the hub 9 in place on the stud 8. The switch member 17 and hub 9 are electrically connected to a binding post'18 by a metal hair-spring 19', one end of which isixedly connected to the hub 9 and the other end of which is suitabl the blnding post, the spring 19 eing coiled about the hub 9 so that it offers substantially no resistance ,to the rotation of the hub 9. 20l represents a spring washer between the insulating body 7 and casing 2 and adapted to frlctionally hold the body 7 in any of its rotative positions to which it may Vbe adjusted by turning the stud 5.

T he insulating member 7 is provided with an integral upwardly extending bracket 21 to which is screwed the lower end of a thermostatic member 22. The thermostatic member 22 comprises two thin layers of dissimilar metals so chosen and secured together that when heated the member as a whole will bend and, if the bottom thereof be maintained stationary, the top end will be moved or displaced in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. Secured to the top of the member 22 by screws 23 is a block of insulating material 24 to which are attached two spring fingers 25 and '26, carrying electrical contacts 27 and 28 respectively adapted to engage and make electrical contact with the contacts 29 and 30 respectively on the switch arm 17 when..v

secured to 2 weasel cured to the frame at 32 and 33 and over 31, so that the pressure which the apparatus which the pointer switch member 17 may will maintain constant in the retort may be travel. 34 represents a pointer member semanually adjusted without affecting and incured to the front of the insulating block dependently of the operation of the auto- 24 1and also arranged to cooperate with the matic adjustment produced by the thermosca e 31. ing posts secured to the casing but insulated pressure which the apparatus will mainwith respect thereto in any suitable mantain substantially constant will be subner. Arranged about the thermostatic memstantially as indicated by the pointer 34 on ber 22 is coil 37 of insulated electricalconthe scale, for as the switch pointer 17 moves ducting wire. The upper end of this coil materially to one side or the other of pointer is connected to the contact 27 through con- 34, due to a variation in pressure from the nection 38 and spring finger 25. The conpredetermined value, connections vwill be tact 28 is connected to Vbinding post 36 made to cause the motor to operate the valve through spring finger 26 and connection 39, so as to bring the pressiEe/back-substantially and the lower end of coil 37 is electrically VYto saidV predetermie'dvalue.

connected with'th'e binding post 35 through Under certain conditions, however, where connection 40. 4l represents a connection to the pressure in the retort or other condition the binding post l18 and in which any sultis rapidly changing, the motor can not orable source of E. M. F. may be connected as dinarily operate the valve to prevent an exindicated at 42. 43 and 44repre'senticon-,icessiveyariation above or belowthe prede' nections to the binding posts 35 and 36 retermined value for which the apparatus is spectively. j 4 set. Thus in the arrangement described,

In operation, forA example, the clrcult when starting'up the pressure in the retort through connections 41 and 43 may be conmay be increasing S0 rapidly due to the Wide sidered, when energized, as causing the mo- Open condition of. the valve that a great', tor to open the valve and admit steam under excess of pressure will be produced in vthe pressure to the retort while when the Aclrretort before the motor, after the lcircuit cuit through connections 41 and 44 is enerthrough contacts 30 and 28 has been closed, gized it will cause the motor to close the can close the valve suiiiciently to maintain valve. In starting up, the pressure in the the desired predetermined pressure. Thereretort being low, the spring tube 2 will be fore, as one embodiment of my improvecontracted causing the pointer switch memments, I have shown the thermostatic member 17 to be moved strongly to the left as ber 22 surrounded by the electrical heating viewed in Fig. 1 whereby the contacts 29 coil 37. and 27 are in engagement and' the circuit When the pressure is. building up and conis completed through the connections 43, 40, tacts 27 and 29 are in engagement causing coil 37 connection 38, spring finger 25, conthe valve to be open, current flows through tacts 27, 29, switch pointer 17, hair'spring the coil 37 thereby heating the thermostatic 19, post 18 to connection 41. This causes strip 22 causing the same to. bend and the the motor to open the Valve and steam w1ll upper end thereof to be swung to the left be admitted to the retort until a certain presas viewed in Fig. 1. sure is reached when the spring tube 2, con- 24, pointer 34 and contacts 27 and 28 to be stantly expanded under the increasing presmoved correspondinglyto the left so that sure, will finally cause the switch pointer 17 the contacts are automatically adjusted for to move tothe right as viewed in Fig. 1 sufa slightly lower predetermined value than liciently to disengage contacts 27 and 29,' that for which the apparatus is set and as thereby deenergizing the motor but leaving the ressure in the retort builds up the conthe valve in its open position. If the presnection between contacts 27 and 29 will be sure, however, increases somewhat the conbroken before the pressure in the retort has tact 30 will be brought into engagement reached the desired value. This will dewith contact 28 and close the circuit through energize the motor and also the, coil 37 so the connections 41 'and 44 so as to operate the thatthe thermostatic member will cool off motor to gradually close the valve. The and gradually cause the contacts 27 and 28 motor will operate to close the valve until the to move to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 pressure is reduced to the desired predeterand assume their normal position. mined value when the connection between The valve, however, being open the prescontacts 30 and 28 will become broken and sure in the retort will continue to build up. the motor deenergized. l If the pressure is building up rapidly the By turning the screw head 6 and thereby switch member 17 will cause contact 30 to lthe stud 5, and insulating body 7, the upengage contact 28 before the thermostatic right thermostatic member 22 carrying the member has cooled off and so start to close vinsulating block 24 and contacts'27 and228 the valve slightly before the desired redemay be swung to the right orto the left as termined ressure has been reached. hen

viewed in Fig. 1, with respect to the scale however t e thermostutic member-,has com- 18, 35 and 36 represent three bindstatic action hereinafter described and the This causes the block pletely cooled off and the contacts 27 and 28 are brought to normal position the closing of the valve will be stopped by the disenc gagement of contacts 28 and 30 due to the vpressure falling to the desired predeterif the receding movement of contact 28 due to the cooling off of the thermostat is faster than the advancing movement due to the still increasing pressure, the connection be-'.

tween contacts 28 and 30 will be broken and the valve will .then remain stationary until the increasing pressure again causes contact 30 to engage Contact 28 when the valve will be further closed until these contacts are again disengaged by the further cooling' of the thermostat, or by the receding pressure.

If the pressure be slowly dropping then a small' increase in the opening of the valve will be sufficient to hold the pressure substantially constant and this will be accomplished by the contacts 27 and 29 on the low side becoming engaged so as to energize the motor to open the valve. As the valve gradually opens the current which is now flowing through coil 37 heats the thermostat causing the contact 27 to be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and so causing the circuit to be opened sooner than it otherwise lwould be, and thereby tending to prevent the motor operated valve from materially overshooting, the time required for the thermostat to cool providing time sufiicient to cause the increase inv pressure with the slight opening of the valve to. become effective. In this way when the pressure difference to be compensated for is small, the valve\will operate for shortl periods so that excessive movements thereof are prevented, while when the pressure difference is great the valve will operate continuously for longer periods but without materially exceeding the desired limit, thus enabling exy tremely close regulation to be obtained.

Thus I have provided an apparatus in which contacts are temporarily automatically set for a different predetermined value responsive to certain conditions in the apparatus, and in the particular arrangement described it will be seen that by providing means whereby the contacts are automatically adjusted for a slightly lower value when the contacts on the low side are engaged, then if the pressure rises quickly, the contacts on the high side will engage before the thermostat has had time to cool so that the valve will begin to close some time before the desired predetermined pressure has been reached, and so tend to prevent the pressure from exceeding the desired value.

While I have described my improvements in reat detail and with respect to one embo iment thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details or embodiment since ,many changes vand modifications may be made and the improvements 'embodied in widely different forms for the regulation of pressure, temperature and other conditions and for rapidly changing variations of various kinds. Thus, for example, in certain cases it may be desirable to connect the heating coil 37 in circuit with the contacts on the high side. Hence I desire to cover all modifications and forms coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Regulating apparatus having two electrical contacts and a relatively movable contact adapted to engage either one or the other of the first mentioned contacts responsive to certain variations substantially above or below a predetermined value respectively, and means whereby the first mentioned contact on the low side is automatically temporarily set for a slightly lower value when 'the third contact is in engagement therewith.

2. Regulating apparatus having two electrical contacts and a relatively movable con-` tact adapted to engage either one or the other o the `first mentioned contacts responsive to certain variations substantially above or below a predetermined value respectively, and means whereby said first two mentioned contacts are automatically set for a lower value when the first mentioned contact on the low side is in engagement with the third contact.

.-3. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a movable switch member actuated `by certain variations, two contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, one when sald variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations exceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby one of said contacts is automatically adjusted for a different value when contact is made therewith by the movable switch member. A

4. Regulating apparatus having in `coinblnation, a. movable switch vmember actuated by certain variations, two contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, onewhen said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations exceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby the contact on the low side is alltOmatically adjusted for a lower said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations exceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby both of said contacts are automatically set yfor a lower value when.

adapted to be engaged thereby, one `when.

said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations eX- ceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby one of said contacts is automaticallyadjusted for a different value vwhencentactis made therewith by the movable switch member, and means for manually adjusting the predetermined value for which said contacts are set independently of the operation of said last mentioned means.

7. Regulating apparatus having in con1- bination, a movable switch member actuated by certain variations, twocontacts adapted to be engaged thereby, one when said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations exceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby the contact on the low side is automatically adjusted for a lower value when the said contact is in. contact with the switch member, and means for manually adjusting the predetermined value for which said contacts are set without affecting the operation of said last mentioned means.

8. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a movable switch member actuated by certain variations, two contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, one'when said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations eX- ceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby one of said contacts'is automatically adjusted for a different valuel when contact is made therewith by the movable switch member, said last mentioned means comprising a thermostatic member carrying said automatically adjustable contact and adapted to move the same when heated and a coil for heating the same, said coil being energized when 'the switch member is in contact with said automatically adjustable contact.

9. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a movable switch member actuated by certain variations, two contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, one whenA said variations drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations exceed substantially said predetermined value, and means whereby the contact on the llow ,aide is automatically adjusted for a lower value when the said contact is in contact with the'switch member, said last mentioned means comprising a thermostatic member carrying said automatically adjustable contact'and adapted to move the same when heated and a coil for heating the same, said coil being energized when the switch memberis in contact with said automatically adjustable contact, and means for manually adjusting the predetermined value for which said contacts are set without affecting the operation of said last mentioned means.

10. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a member movable by variations in pressure, a switch member operated thereby responsive to said variations in pressure, two contacts one on either side of said. switch member and adapted to be engaged thereby, one when the variations in pressure drop belowa predetermined value and the other when said variations in pressure substantially exceed said predetermined value, and means whereby one of said contacts is automatically adjusted for a different value' when contact is made therewith by the movable switch member. i

11. Regulating apparatus having in combination a .member movable by variations in and a coil for heating the same, said coil being energized when the switch member is in contact with said automatically adjustable contact.

12. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a member movable by variations in pressure, a switch membenoperated thereby responsive to said variations .1n pressure, two contacts one lon eitherside of Said switch member and adapted to be engaged thereby,

one when the variations in pressure drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations in pressuic substantially exceed said predetermined value, and means whereby the contact on the low side is automatically adjusted for a lower value when the said contact is in contact with the switch member.

13. Regulating apparatus having in combination, a member movable by variations in in pressure, a switch member operated thereby responsive to sald variations in pressure, two contacts one on either side of said switch member and adapted tobe engaged thereby,

one when the variations in pressure drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations in pressure substantially exceed said predetermined value, and means whereby the contact on the low side is automatically adjusted for a lower value when the said contact is incontact with the switch member, said last mentioned means comprising a thermostatic member carrying said automatically adjustable contact and adapted to move the same when heated'and a coil for heating the' same, said coil being energized when the switch member is in contact with said automatically adjustable contact.

14. Regulatin apparatus having in combination, a mem er movable 'by variations in pressure, a switchmember operated thereby responsive to said variations in pressure, two contacts one on either side of said switch member and adapted to be engaged thereby, one when the variations in pressure drop below a predetermined value and the other when said variations in pressure substantially exceed, saidl predetermined value, and means whereby both of said contacts 'are automatically set for a lower value when the contact on the low side is in contact with said switch member. I

15. Regulatin apparatus having in combination, a mem er movable by variations in contacts one on either side ofl said switch member and adapted to be engaged thereby,

one when t-he variations in pressure drop.

below a predetermined value and the other when said variations in pressure substantially exceed said predetermined value, and means whereby onev of said contacts is automatically temporarily adjusted for adiierent value responsive to certain conditions of the ap aratus.

16. egulating apparatus having in combination a member movable by variations in pressure,an electrical contact operated thereby, an electrical contact adapted to cooperate with the rst mentioned contact', a thermostatic member carrying one of said contacts, and means for heating said thermostatic member electrically to vary the position of the contact carried thereby with respect to the other contact.

17. Regulating apparatus having in combination a Bourdon tube, an electrical contact operated thereby, an electrical contact adapted to cooperate with the rstlnamed contact, a 'bi-metallic thermostatic member carrying one of said contacts, and an electrical heatingcoil surrounding said thermostatic member to heat the same and thereby vary 'the thereby wit respect to the other contact.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

EMIL A.v ILEMAN.

osition of the contact carriedV 

